Intergenerational Bond Celebrated: La petite et le vieux in Granby

Une cinquantaine de filmgoers gathered at the local cégep auditorium for the inaugural screening of Ciné-Cantons in Granby. The non-profit organization, led by Natalie Tessier, brought Patrice Sauvé’s 2024 film La petite et le vieux to the region for a free public viewing, offering an alternative to major urban centers while launching a broader mission to spark intergenerational dialogue through independent Canadian and Quebec cinema.

The adaptation of Marie-Renée Lavoie’s novel stars Gildor Roy and Juliette Bharucha. Set in 1980s Limoilou, the narrative follows 10-year-old Hélène—who goes by Jo—and her neighbor Roger, a bearded man concealing a compassionate nature behind rough edges. The story explores family alcoholism, mental health struggles, and unconventional bonds, drawing emotional reactions from viewers during a post-show discussion panel moderated by researcher Carine Bétrisey.

Inside the Granby Cégep Auditorium Debut

Following the credits, Bétrisey led an interactive conversation with the audience. Bétrisey is a researcher affiliated with an Université de Sherbrooke laboratory who studies ageism and social participation. Attendees engaged immediately with the subject matter.

Sheford resident André Beauregard described the on-screen relationships as natural and spontaneous. Another spectator characterized the dynamic as a tender cocoon capable of withstanding personal loss. Meanwhile, Cédrick Beauregard, cultural dossier lead at the Granby municipal council, noted that the young protagonist learns as much from Roger as she does in a formal classroom setting.

Speakers Link Film Themes to Modern Social Habits

Speakers during the evening connected the film’s 1980s setting directly to modern social habits. Cédrick Beauregard pointed to contemporary distractions, stating that people spend too much time glued to their phones instead of connecting with neighbors.

Andréanne Larouche, Federal Member of Parliament for Shefford, highlighted the film’s depiction of complex family dynamics, including alcoholism. She emphasized how community members can step in as a chosen family to help individuals grow. Bétrisey added that bringing generations together helps dismantle stereotypes that young people are entirely absorbed by screens and that older generations hold outdated ideas.

The Mechanics of Bringing Indie Cinema to Granby

Operating entirely without Hollywood blockbusters, Ciné-Cantons focuses instead on quality productions that lack visibility outside major urban areas. Behind-the-scenes efforts brought local flavor to the production as well; Claude Palardy hosted the film’s editing at his Granby residence. Palardy shared details during the event about the intense casting process, noting that a wide search involving about one hundred candidates took place just to find the right actor for the role of Hélène.

Looking Ahead at Youth Outreach

While Natalie Tessier expressed satisfaction with the turnout on Thursday evening, she acknowledged the ongoing hurdles involved in pulling younger demographics away from mainstream media.

On se rend compte que la découvrabilité des productions québécoises et canadiennes n’est pas très grande auprès des jeunes, mais j’ai bon espoir qu’on arrivera à attirer toutes les générations.